Chapter 32

Riddhima: Huh...Armaan Aa rahi hoon naaa...kitni baar poochoge? aur kitni baar main kahoon ki aa rahi hoon??? (she frowns as she shouts off to him)
 
Riddhima was just putting some dishes back into the kitchen shelf. Armaan had been impatienlty calling out for her over the past few minutes from the room, n she was sure he was upto one of his usual tricks.
 
Armaan: Riddhima!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Riddhima: HUH. ARMAAN, EK AUR BAAR BULAYA NA TO KABHI NAI AAOONGI...SAMJHE? (she opens the fridge n puts a bowl into it)
 
Armaan: arrey yaar...jaldi aao na...main kabse tumhaara wait kar raha hoon...
 
Riddhima clears away some utensils, then washes n dries her hands, n switches off the light n walks towards the room.
 
Armaan: aiyee....ek minute ek minute...(he stands in her way on the door, not letting her enter)
 
Riddhima scowls hard this time
 
Ridhima: ARMAAAANNN!!! pehle to itni der takk bulaate jaa rahe ho aur ab jab aayi hoon to andar nee aane de rahe ho..tumhaari problem kya hai??
 
Armaan: Kuch nai...ab yeh...yeh mujhe do...(he takes Arima's bottle from her)
 
Riddhima: Armaan..kya kar rahe ho..yeh Arima ka milk...
 
Armaan: ssshhhhh....
 
He takes a hold on her shoulder from behind, after keeping the bottle on one side, n whispers into her ear
 
Armaan: Ab apni aankhein band karo...
 
Riddhima looks at him, her eyes depicting slight anger n confusion
 
Ridhima: Armaaannnn...!!
 
Armaan: Tumne andar jaana hai ya nai? (His eyes question her naughtily)
 
Riddhima: huh...nai...mujhe nai jaana (she puts up her hands in the air, as if she is very tired of his nonsense that was being displayed over the past few minutes) Tum jaao apne room mein..aur yeh..yeh bottle please use de dena...main tang ho chuki hoon tum donon se...
 
He hadnt expected this, that would ruin all his hard work. So when she backs off, he holds her hand from behind, then swings her in such a way that she comes to face him, quite close to him.
 
She actually just didnt know what happened to her during such times. Was it that musky scent that took over her senses, or the warmth of love that radiated from his body, n when she was in contact with him, it was as if love flowed through him, to her....perhaps it was those eyes of his in which she thought one day she would drown n lose herself forvever. Even in such moments when she was cross with him for one thing or the other, such close proximity made it all change, n she would forget everything with just one blink. Those ruffled hair n that strong yet gentle hold on her hand, next to his chest n that undazed gaze was just irresistable n it was only when Armaan spoke that she was brought back into the world.
 
Armaan: Ab apni aankhein band bhi karo...
 
Riddhima: haan...mm..
 
She closes her eyes, n he takes one last look at her, ensuring that her eyes were shut, then makes her enter the room, n makes her walk a bit further. He smiles at what he sees then turns to look at her.
 
Riddhima: ab kholoon?
 
Armaan: Ummm...yea!

 

Riddhima opens her eyes to see she was standing next to the door of the balcony which was next to their room. The door was wide open n she could see the whole scene which was something like this: The railing of the balcony was very prettily decorated with a few roses, the aroma of which she could scent. There were a dozen red heart shaped balloons all over the place, so much that it was hard for her to walk through them. It was all a very simple scene: nothing much, nothing elaborate, or grandly done, but for her it meant all she could have ever wished for. Such little, yet enchanting surprises left her awe-struck, n she looks back at him, the anger vanished all away, n the smile reaching upto her eyes.

 

Armaan comes close, pokes his mouth into her hair, then says

 

Armaan: Happy Valentine's Day!

 

It was twelve, n the day had changed to the day when Arima was born, exactly a year back, n it had also changed into their day, which, both of them, like any other lovers loved to celebrate.

 

She closes her eyes as he kisses her beneath her ear lobe. She opens them to feel something on her neck. Her hand immediately goes up, n she fingers a beautiful locket. It was a small diamond pendant with a petite yet pretty heart graved on it. It shined bright in the moonless night n she looked at him.

 

Riddhima: Armaan...Happy Valentines Day! Thanks so much...lekin tumhein kaise pta mujhe yeh chahiye tha?

 

Armaan: Pta to nee tha...yeh hi chahiye tha kya?

 

She nods n smiles.

 

Riddhima: Thank you...

 

Armaan: Your welcome,Basket (pulling her into a warm hug)

 

A few moments later he whispers

 

Armaan: Mujhe pta hai tum mere liye kuch nai layi hogi, but its ok...hum yu know kuch aur karke...

 

Riddhima: Tumhein kisne kaha ki main kuch nahi layee?

 

Armaan looks at her surprised. Not showing it much, he asks

 

Armaan: Achha..kya layee ho?

 

Her eyes twinkled beneath the starry night n her cheeks are coloured an unusual pink with a meaningful smile of warmth n love across her lips. She comes close to him, takes one of his hands, then covers it with both her hands.

 

Riddhima looks at him. There was something she had been waiting to tell him since the party at Anjali's house...she had decided she would tell him the next day, but this seemed  the perfect time, the perfect place n the perfect situation to give him the gift...yet again. Actually she didnt know how to break it to him, it had been different the first time, but now...her cheeks were flushing all the more red n she decided to do it now.

She goes up on her tiptoes, n reaches his height, then brings her face close to his ear, n whispers

 

Riddhima: I'm pregnant Armaan!

 

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